Flooding, tornadoes possible as tropical system approaches Florida

8 PM UPDATE: The National Hurricane Center increased chances of tropical development for 93L to 70 percent over the next five days and 30 percent over the next two days. (Credit: NHC)

AFTERNOON UPDATE: The system brewing in the Caribbean was designated Invest 93L by the National Hurricane Center Friday afternoon. It was given a 20 percent chance of development by Sunday and a 60 percent chance of development by Wednesday.

ALSO: Bonnie “somewhat unexpectedly” regained tropical storm strength Friday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said. Its winds had grown to 40 mph. But it was expected to weaken overnight and into Saturday, becoming post-tropical again north of Bermuda.

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ORIGINAL POST: Colin may be calling early next week, an unwelcome early summer visitor determined to deliver a thorough drenching to the Sunshine State.

Heavy rain, flooding and isolated tornadoes are the biggest South Florida weather threats for next week as the projected tropical low churns into Florida’s West Coast.

Although forecast models seem to be coalescing around a Tampa area landfall for the system — which would be called Colin if winds reach 39 mph — gusts by Tuesday in Palm Beach are forecast to reach 35 mph amid showers and thunderstorms.

Within stronger thunderstorms, winds could gust over 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

On top of that, once the system exits into the Atlantic, it’s expected to send a cold front into South Florida that will stall, continuing the threat for heavy rain through the end of the week.

Even the National Hurricane Center warned of possible flooding in Florida this morning in the agency’s tropical weather outlook. They gave the system, now in the Caribbean, a 60 percent chance of developing near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. From there, it’s forecast to make a beeline toward the northeast into Florida.

Weather Underground is predicting 3 inches of rain in Palm Beach through next week, which is roughly consistent with graphical forecasts by NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center.